Mazda MX 5 Miata PRHT Grand Touring Review

This may be the first car Ive driven where the name, if put on a badge, would be longer than the car itself.

It is the heaviest and most expensive Miata Ive driven in 13 years of professional TireKicking, but I cant say I love it any less (for just how much that is, see last years review here). And thats because Mazda is now doing the kind of magic that used to be solely the province of Honda.

Retractable hardtops, while offering security from knife-wielding thieves and a lower level of cockpit noise, usually add weight and cost and steal a large chunk of what little trunk space the ragtop version of a car has in the first place.

But Mazda has kept the weight gain to 80 pounds...lighter than putting a passenger onboard. And because of how it folds into place, it takes up less than one cubic inch of trunk space.

That, folks, is just plain brilliant.

Cost? Yes, its more. In the case of the Grand Touring model, going with the PRHT (lets just call it the "retractable" from here on out) adds $1860 to the tab.  And while $1860 is $1860, thats less than most cars charge for a nav system that will be obsolete by the time you need new tires.

So the starting point for the retractable Grand Touring is $28,400. Yeah, thats a chunk for a Miata, especially when the base Miata Sport softtop starts at $22,960. But heres what you get by going with the Grand Touring:

• 
  
  Run-flat tires
• 
  
  Xenon headlights
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  Automatic climate control
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  Advanced keyless entry
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  Leather-trimmed  heated seats
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  Bose audio system
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  Sirius satellite radio
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  Bluetooth hands-free phone capability
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  Dynamic stability control
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  Traction control system

In short, a seriously loaded luxury Miata. And Mazda added the Suspension Package (a sport-tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks and limited-slip differential) for $500....which just enhances this real-life version of a slot car. Bottom line: $31,300 including delivery charges.

                   

If you have never driven a Miata, you owe yourself at least a test-drive. They are addictive cars...delivering what the old MGs, Triumphs and Austin-Healys only promised...embarrassing the earnest efforts of the now-dead Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. If youve dismissed them as merely cute, or a "chick car", youre wrong, pure and simple. 68 percent of all Miatas are bought by men, and its because they are the next-best thing to a Porsche Boxster at a fraction of the price. They reward energetic, involved driving...20 minutes on a winding road will put a smile on your face that will last all day.

Go.

Buy.

Drive.

New Car Review 2012 BMW Z4 2 8i




The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i.

Pundits have been predicting the end of our second golden age of performance for quite a while now...and reason tells you theyre probably right...that a combination of increasing mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and just plain old pain at the pump will someday result in liters and horsepower taking a back seat to efficiency and economy.

That being the case, the news that BMW, maker of the sweetest six-cylinders on this or any other planet, was shifting to four-cylinders in some variants of some of its models, was especially worrying.

Well, stop it. Now. The BMW Z4 2.8i, the four-cylinder that this year replaces the 3.0-liter 6, is soooo good.

Remember how much we loved the Z4 3.5i last year?  We love the 2.8i more.






The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i.

First of all, its lost none of its looks. The Z4, long an ugly duckling, is now drop-dead gorgeous. If you can resist those curves, see a doctor.

Secondly, while the 2.8 packs 60 fewer horsepower than the 3.5, its a still-serious 240 horses, its 231 pounds lighter and that peak power comes up 800 rpms earlier. And that lighter weight means a lighter nose...the 2.8 is much more tossable than the 3.5. Plus, BMW engineers have managed to make the four feel almost as silky as their legendary sixes.

Third, theres some serious fuel economy involved here. The EPA estimate for the Z4 2.8i is 22 city/34 highway, and what we saw in our week at the wheel suggests thats a realistic number.




The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i interior.

And the interior...my Lord, the interior. The Z4 is one of the few cars on the market today where the inside looks as good as the outside and vice-versa. Everythings right where it should be and it all looks and feels very special...never, ever, giving you the feeling youre in an ordinary car. And youre not.

$49.525 with delivery and handling gets you a fully equipped car that will impress the neighbors, attract admiring looks from strangers, entertain you in motion and save you money at the gas station.

The 2.8 secures its place on TireKickers Top Ten Cars list for all those reasons. I drive 104 cars a year. Theres something new every week. I want this one back.


If you want to drive the newest models, consider Vehicle leasing from Comparecontracthire.com in order to choose from a large selection of makes and models.

Subaru Legacy 2 5 i and 3 6R Limited Review

Subaru has made its place in the automotive world the past 35 years or so by being the Japanese SAAB. Quirky, yet loveable...attracting a small but devoted following.

Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so theres precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.

Except that Subarus managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.

The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, its a complete package without any options).

Even though the Legacy is bigger now, its lighter than the competition...handles better...and dont forget...its a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.

And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.

That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.

And the price?

Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.

Remember the deal about no options? Thats right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. Theres a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. Thats compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.

Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:

UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good.  But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.  And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.

Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.

First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).

And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable drivers seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.

There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. Theres no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.

And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And thats where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante Review

Aston Actress DBS Volante prefabricated its beginning at the Gin Causative Demo 2009. Aston Comedian DBS To hearty the line-up, the new steering roller is viable for clients supported on a combination of DBS has already foreign a touchstone for sports car features all the excitement out automotive. The reference expansion of DBS, Aston Vocalizer DBS Volante gift attractiveness to drivers who essential to consortium the stir of driving a sports car in melody with the exciting somatesthesia of being unfastened to the elements. This emplacement of unparalleled performance and awakens the senses gaping to any participant when he was promoted in the heady moving trip or cruise on retentive trips. 

"Volante", which agency "running with a intensify of igniter characteristics of the Aston Saint DBS Volante. With a motored retractable padded top, the DBS is dehydrated as beautiful strikingness up or downfield. When the roof is obstructed, providing a hot and rich when its ajar, it disappears completely behindhand the new setting concealing at the manner of a secure. Aston Comedian CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, said: "Aston Singer DBS Volante offers many easy swing live with the top up or strike, which perfectly combines the excellence in arrangement engineering .. "Aston Player DBS Volante offers a upright combining of force and execution Add to this, crafts -.. It is an unparalleled ownership and driving receive"

2013 Ford Fusion review

2013 Ford Fusion. High technology that lets you have a Triple Crown Gas Best-in-Class. The first sedan that offers gasoline, hydride and plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The new 2013 Fusion is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain, each with superior fuel economy, underscoring Fords commitment to give customers the power of choice.

With seven must-have technologies, including a Lane Keeping System, adaptive cruise control, active parking assistant and MyFord Touch, the new 2013 Fusion shows how Ford is offering features that customers really want and value.

With a sleek silhouette and a new face, the new 2013 Ford Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles that Ford developed along the line of subcompact 2011 Fiesta and 2012 Focus small cars. Developed to satisfy customers who want fuel efficiency, helpful technologies and game to change the appearance.

The 2013 Ford Fusion is sold in EEEUU. In its variants S, SE and Titanium and aims to be the next Ford Mondeo for world markets.

The fuel efficiency of Triple Crown the 2013 Fusion brings the broadest selection of powertrains low consumption in medium car segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engine normally aspirated four-cylinder, a system for automatic start and stop when you turn off the engine idling, fixed front wheel drive four-wheel applications transmission, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.

It is expected that the 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder hybrid not let 42 kpg und How to navigate in the city and 60 on the highway kpg. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with six-speed automatic transmission Select Shift, wheels and tires 19 inches and the ability to send additional torque to the rear in the Fusion performance option.

The 2013 Fusion can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help when parking, even helping drivers during reversing in parking space where visibility is obstructed.

System for keeping in the lane. This class-exclusive technology consists of three elements to help a driver maintain proper lane position. With a small forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror, the system analyzes the tracks to determine if the car is on course. The system will alert the driver if it detects drowsiness or irregular in maintaining the lane. The second element warns the driver with a steering wheel vibration if the 2013 Ford Fusion moves too close to lane markings. Finally, it helps to apply pressure on management to bring the car back to its proper position in the lane.

Active assistance system for the parking. Employing sensors, this technology can identify a parallel parking space right, calculate the trajectory and steer the car in the right position. All a driver need do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals.

Blind Spot System Information (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert. Sensors on both sides of 2013 Ford Fusion are able to detect traffic in a drivers blind spot, providing both audible and visual warnings if traffic is detected without being seen by the driver.

2011 BMW Z4 Review

Welcome to the gotta-have-it car of 2011. Men, women, kids....doesnt matter. Pull up in this and get ready for the questions:

Is it as wonderful to drive as it is to look at?

How fast is it?

Can you toss me the keys for an afternoon?

Here are the answers:

Yes.

Plenty.

I promised the folks at Chapman BMW in Chandler, Arizona that I wouldnt do that. 

Longtime TireKicker followers know that I believe in BMW magic. TireKickers first review (complete with the story of my first teenage encounter with a 2002tii) was of a BMW convertible (the 128i).

Well, the BMW magic has never been stronger than it is in the Z4. The styling re-defines the concept of animal magnetism (something like this cant possibly be just metal). The retractable hardtop gives you the best of both worlds...the practicality and security of a fixed-roof coupe and the wind in your hair and sun on your skin of a convertible.

And its a magnificent melding of the contemporary and the relatively recent past, grabbing styling cues from the limited-production 2000-2003 Z8.

The Z4 comes in three levels, the sDrive30i, with 255 horsepower and a base price of $47,450; the sDrive35i at 300 horsepower and a base price of $51,900 and the sDrive35is...335 horsepower and a starting price of $62,500.  Our week was in the middle of the line sDrive35i.

If there is a more balanced driving machine, I cant remember driving it. The car is light and nimble, steering responses are rightnowquick and, despite a short wheelbase and overall length, the ride is smooth while still giving great feedback from the road.

And inside, where the driving gets done? Well, the Z4 is every good thing about BMW. Phenomenal ergonomics, top-quality materials, an unflinching devotion to quality workmanship. And an integrated group of electronics that actually help get distractions out of the drivers way rather than adding to them. Its all (even the more complex functions) simple, direct and intuitive.

Even optionless, the Z4 sDrive35i would be a fantastic car, but our tester had several key option boxes checked: Titanium Silver Metallic paint (which everyone we encountered remarked on as the most beautiful shade of silver theyd seen), $550; the Premium Package (universal garage door opener, power front seats, lumbar support and BMW Assist with Bluetooth), $2,500; the Premium Sound Package, which upgrades the audio system while adding an iPod and USB adapter and a 1-year satellite radio subscription; the Sport Package (an increased top-speed limiter, sport seats and adaptive M suspension) for $2,300 and a further bump-up to 19-inch alloy V-spoke wheels for $1,200.

But thats not all. The 7-speed double clutch transmission (which includes a sport steering wheel with paddles, Servotronic and a multi-function steering wheel) was also on the list for $1,575. Those extra gears pay off in improved fuel economy...EPA estimates 17 city/ 24 highway.

$400 for the anti-theft alarm system, $500 for Comfort Access keyless entry, $500 for heated front seats, $2,100 for an excellent navigation system and an $875 destination charge brought ours to a bottom line of $66,200.

And you know what? Its worth it. Its three things: A brilliant car for driving, a work of art to look at, and over the long haul, an investment. Mark my words...this is a classic in our time. A car that 30 years from now and beyond youll look at and say "I wish Id bought one".  Any one of those things would be enough to secure the Z4 a slot on TireKickers Top 10 Cars (So Far). All three? Its a lock.

2013 Lexus RX 350 Review

 A successful formula should not be changed and some say this is exactly what Lexus has done with its most successful model in sales in recent years: the RX 350.

To say it has not changed the formula does not do justice in a way, because this crossover luxury Japanese brand itself has been improved year after year. What I imply here is that the concept and spirit that has led to the RX to be enshrined in the U.S. auto market continues intact.

Part of their success formula is to have maintained a visual identity which customers fell in love in the early 90s. Undoubtedly, the Lexus RX was one of the pioneers in the segment called luxury crossovers, setting the pace of the moment in style and sophistication, briefly caught on very easily to the point that in question of time this issue began to multiply rapidly in the streets.

For the 2013 model we can say that even maintains that identity, obviously with appropriate modifications to any manufacturer prints on their models gradually, but evidently remains unmistakable look far to know what car it is without having to think much. For many this was his great virtue throughout its history, but for others it is perhaps time to make a change more aggressive in its visual presentation. Its just a matter of taste.

Among the most interesting changes highlights the new sports package F along with a sport-tuned suspension and 8-speed automatic transmission to other models in the range already share. The exterior of the 2013 Lexus RX 350 has an elegant stance in turn denotes aggression. Have improved levels of comfort and maneuverability. The inverted trapezoid design in the front and rear are incorporated together horizontally through the long side along the outline of the RX, which comes with standard aluminum wheel 18 inches to complement the exterior appearance with a strong and sports, but our unit offers optional aluminum wheels of 19 inches to give an extra touch of style.

RX350

The driver has available a complete interface command and information presented through a multi-informational display 8 "easy visibility and touch operation. A white Organic LED ensures readability from a wide angle. The 2013 Lexus RX 350 provides a display of the speedometer also reflected in the windshield that ostensibly reduces the need for excessive eye movement to monitor the speed. Use of high intensity lights LED shine makes deployment so it can be read in the light of day against sun or at night.

The area of operation and control provides access to a great deal of information through the new digital navigation and control multi-information button mounted on the wheel.

Standard equipment has been improved offering connection for iPod or USB devices like a power liftgate. Interior space is generous and his shooting is quite comfortable despite the sports suspension adds some stiffness that some buyers may not be the best. Speaking of interior space should be noted that the RX does not offer third-row seat which is a disadvantage compared to models like the Infiniti JX35 or the Acura MDX, but the cargo space is significantly larger in the Lexus RX in its rivals.

The 2013 Lexus RX 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 248 pounds per foot of torque, it is coupled to an eight-speed transmission available only with sports package F. The basic version offers a six-speed transmission.

We can say with confidence that the dynamic power management features when required, especially operating gear changes with paddles behind the steering built, the car responds much more ease and speed, is very stable in curves and traction in all wheels allows a very balanced shooting. In speed tests the 2013 RX 350 can reach exceed the zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds.

Fuel consumption levels yields combined 21 miles per gallon (18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway). On security all Lexus RX models feature anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, front airbags and rear curtain air bags, air bags protect knees and emergency communication system that automatically notifies eventually a crash to seek help and assistance quickly.

The basic price of the 2013 RX 350 is $ 47,000; the unit we tested costs $ 53.924.